Campus Voices
Upper School
As you may know, last year marked the first time that BB&N offered a course in Arabic, making it one of only a handful of secondary schools in the United States to do so.
In light of recent developments and the strained relationship between the United States and the Middle East, the cultural aspect of the class proved to be just as important as the language itself.
One of the most valuable pieces from last year’s Arabic course was a short film entitled Reel Bad Arabs. Based on the book by Dr. Jack Shaheen, the film reviews over 900 movies produced in Hollywood that feed off (and often add to) the everyday stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims.
This stereotyping can be found everywhere, including in films with big name actors and actresses that are viewed by people all over the world. Perhaps most responsible for distorting our outlook of people in the Middle East, however, are those films which shape our views early on in our youth. The Disney movie Aladdin, for instance, has a song called “Arabian Nights” that sets the tone of the movie in the opening scene:
“Oh I come from a land…where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face. It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.”
Furthermore, the name of the city that the narrator introduces us to is called Aghraba. In Arabic, aghrab, أغرب , is a word in the superlative form, meaning the strangest, or the oddest.
As we discussed in class, the consequences of such words are extremely powerful. A child who watches this movie will not come away with an appreciation for the food, customs, and hospitality Arabs are well-known for. Instead, they will think of this part of the world as one they cannot relate to, one that is backwards and hostile, full of flying carpets, belly dancers, and genies. Several students came to me and told me that “this was a truly eye-opening experience.”
Because much of the Arab world is Muslim, it was inevitable that we also came across some surprises about Islam as well. A section of our textbook focuses on the family tree of the Prophet Muhammad. This prompted students to ask about the importance of Jesus in Islam. Students were surprised to learn that the name of Jesus in Arabic, Esa, عيسى , is mentioned in the Qur’an more than any other prophet. Additionally, in a chapter dedicated to Mary, the Qur’an gives a detailed description of the birth of baby Jesus.
So I guess the moral of the story is that in order to successfully change how we perceive people in other parts of the world (not just the Arab world), and vice versa, we must focus on the commonalities that we have rather than the differences. Every student, regardless of gender, race, or religion, desires (and is entitled to) a good education and life’s basic necessities. At the end of the day, people all over the world have the same ambitions and dreams that we do.
It is my hope that as the 2007-08 school year is underway, you and you son(s) and/or daughter(s) will enjoy a great year full of many opportunities to embrace diversity and keep the quest alive to learn as much as you can about all the different cultures this world has to offer.
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